He discovers a lot of adamantine ore, and several barrels hidden in the middle of the big cart.

The barrels are completely sealed with wax.

Jack, Ug and Elik discover some treasure… (a ring)

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Oh, Rats…:

A second nearby lightning strike rocks the mountainside structure.

The remaining door (South) collapses.

Moments later, a small horde of rats comes squealing and scratching into the room.

Combat ensues… rats get killed pretty quick.

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Deeper Into The Darkness:

Reginald again demands that all of his guards, and the SRG troops, clear the cave-in so the group can leave.

This time, Captain Foren agrees.

The party (Ug, Derek, Jack, Elik & the gnome) decide to head into the south tunnel, and explore, while the troops and guards get busy moving loose rock.

After a long tunnel, the group finds a chamber with a iron big grating in the floor, which is allowing rainwater to drain, and an exit to the south.

There is a shaft of light from the ceiling, and a very long tunnel headed straight up from this room to the mountainside and open sky above. A rope hangs down form the top of this, dangling over the grate.

There are several tables in the room with rusted sacrificial implements. This place looks evil.

suddenly, a group of four hobgoblin barbarians rush into the room from the south exit!

Combat ensues… javelins get thrown, people charge, some trip and fall, people hit each other, the little gnome stabs a hobgoblin that was charging at Elik and leaves a disproportionately large wound, the hobgoblins are defeated.

The group continues on southward.

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A Door Of Darkness:

The party finds 2 doors, one south, one west.

Jack discovers another dart trap around the west door, and disarms it.

Jack unlocks the west door.

They party opens the door, and sees a long tunnel.

Jack unlocks the south door.

The party opens the door, but beyond it is utter blackness —light from spells/torches and darkvision do not pierce beyond the door.

On someone Jack's recommendation, Elik summons a creature and has it scout into the dark room.

The party hears the summoned celestial dog get beaten to a pulp and thrown around the room, and quickly shuts and locks the door.

Everyone starts debating what to do.

The group sets up for combat in case anything comes out.

The gnome takes off his hat and drops it to the ground, and the illusion disguising his appearance fades —he's not a gnome at all, but rather a Guardian in Scout Form (small size). He proceeds to transform to Standard Form and then War Form (large size).

Everyone continues debating what to do, whether to explore the west tunnel first or deal with whatever's to the south.

A pair of large hands break through the seems of the door to either side, and rip it inwards into the darkness!!!

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Dusk Of The Dead:

A zombified bugbear barbarian emerges from the darkness, and attacks the party.

Combat ensues… trip contest with Ug and the zombie, Elik summons more monsters, Jack strikes at it several times and ends up entering the darkened room to get away, Jack discovers the impenetrable darkness is only a thin sheet at the door, the rest of the room is visible to his darkvision once inside (but now he can't see back outside.) Jack discovers an evil altar in the room and gold coins scattered across the floor. The group is having trouble slaying the zombie, and people are taking damage. Derek stabs the creature from the west tunnel opening, Jack stabs from the darkness finally slaying it.

After the combat, the darkness shielding the door to the south room disappears.

The altar in the center of the room cracks.

Jack deftly steals the Hat of Disguise that the Guardian dropped, while no one's looking.

As a distraction, he says he heard noise down the west tunnel. Elik knows he's lying, everyone else believes the bluff.

Ug heads down the west tunnel.

Elik loot's the fallen zombie knight.

The Guardian introduces himself as Aegis 9.

Derek searches the room with the altar. Has Elik help him.

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Swatting Spiders:

Ug heads into the west tunnel alone, and finds a room with webbing everywhere.

Ug gets stuck in the webs at the doorway, but burns his way out.

He enters the room to search what looks like body mounds.

A big monstrous spider leaps from it's hiding place above to attack!

Ug's spidey sense (har har) goes off and he is not surprised by the attack.

Ug swats the spider and splatters it all over the walls, before it can reach him.

Jack runs down and searches the room with Ug. They find treasure (pearl of power and some gold)

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The Ancient Scourge:

Derek is convinced there's more to the altar room than a few coins on the ground.

Party searches determinedly and discovers the altar is in fact, hollow.

Inisde they find a black flail with wicked runes all over it.

The party takes the flail, carefully bundled in cloth.

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The Way Out:

The party returns to the room with the drain.

Ug climbs up the rope and out the top.

Ug finds hobgoblin tracks, and also discovers that the weather has calmed down.

Ug finds a path back down to the entrance of the cave, where the cave-in happened, and begins helping to clear the rubble from the outside.

Jack returns to the main chamber to check on progress, and inform Captain Foren that all's well.

Captain Foren sends a pair of guards down the tunnel to investigate the room with the bodies.

Jack hides the stolen Hat Of Disguise in the room, after the bodies have been searched.

The party congregates in the main entrance chamber, and debrief Captain Foren and Reginald on what happened.

The rubble is finally cleared, and the caravan leaves.

Jack retrieves the Hat Of Disguise before leaving.

The caravan & party continue up the mountainside, to Rudik's Pass…

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Adventures In Rudik's Pass

Arrival At The North Gate:

Ug offers to help Elik walk as the group gets higher up the mountain.

The temperature drops. People start putting on cold weather attire.

After rounding the last bend in the snake trail, the caravan and party approach Rudik's Pass via the North Gate.

The ground is covered in snow.

There are several Sartii Royal Guards standing at the gate, which is open.

Jack gets wierd looks from the gate guards, being a kobold, but Captain Foren vouches for him.

The group enters Rudik's Pass.

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…TO BE CONTINUED

Aegis 9 leaves the group, UG prays

Checking in at the Inn, getting some sleep (finally!)

Rumors of Rudik's Pass

The South Gate Is Locked, Ravannese Blockade

The Sickness

The Disappearance Of The Miners

Political Enmity Between The Mayor And The Commander Of The SRG

Knights of the Last Stand

The Druidess

The Two Rude Dwarves

Party Squabble, Derek Take Some Alone Time (sees the Ravannese Blockade over the South Wall, down the mountain)